Learning English

Images: Getty / BBC

Introduction

Steven Hassan, who escaped from a cult, believes that the best leaders want to learn and "get feedback from everyone else".

According to Hassan, some leaders should know when to let somebody else take over.

• The dark side of leadership
  

• Our Leadership series homepage

• Meet our partner, The Open University

TRANSCRIPT

Steven Hassan

I think the most effective leaders are humble and are eager to have naysayers in their top advisory board, who invite criticism and challenge. For me, that is the most interesting, unusual and true fact – that the best leaders want to learn, want to grow, want to get feedback from... from everyone else.

I think we have to respect everybody. I'd like to see more young leaders being taught and mentored to... to exert more healthy influence on the planet.

I think the biggest challenge for any leader is how to take maximum advantage of the skills and creativity... and abilities of people. And I think that sometimes leaders need to step aside, because a better person has... comes along that has better skills. I think a lot of leaders get into a mentality of 'the ends justify the means' and we need to do this – x or y – to make money for their shareholders, instead of thinking about the long-term benefit or cost to the community. I think there's no freedom without responsibility.